French-Canadian Statement (7 June 2018)

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Given the extent of their convergence of views on a number of international issues, France and Canada wish to join forces to address current challenges to the future of the planet and the world order. With this statement, France and Canada confirm yet again their growing relationship and boost deeper cooperation efforts on today’s major challenges including multilateralism, democracy, fighting climate change, gender equality and free trade that is open and founded on law.

France and Canada maintain a solid relationship founded on common values, which are liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and the primacy of the rule of law.

This relationship is based on strong ties between our peoples and cultures, the shared French language, and our ever closer and developed cooperation on economic, social and societal issues and in areas of defence, peace and security.

In a complex geopolitical context, marked by issues crucial to the future of the globe and international order, France and Canada are determined to work together to address them. Consequently, France and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment tobuilding a safer, more peaceful world, to supporting an international order based on fair rules, and to promoting a transition to a low carbon economy so that everyone may reap the benefits of environmentally sustainable growth.

To this end, France and Canada are committed to:

Supporting strong, responsible and transparent multilateralism to face global challenges. Both countries have reiterated their full support for the United Nations and the Secretary General of the United Nations in his efforts to make it stronger: France and Canada will support these efforts. Similarly, France and Canada will continue their dialogue, confirmed by the France-Canada Peacekeeping Roadmap adopted in October 2016.

Working together to fight climate change. France and Canada will continue their joint work to guarantee an effective and operational implementation of the Paris Agreement, by uniting all stakeholders (civil society, governments and corporations).

Promoting democratic values.With a strong shared attachment to these values, France and Canada have decided to promote and defend democracy both nationally and multilaterally. France and Canada support the organization of the Paris Peace Forum, which will be held in Paris in November 2018, to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Promoting a free, open and rules-based trading system. By strengthening their economic and commercial ties through the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, France and Canada are also committed to promoting a vision of a global trade system based on an approach that is respectful of health and the environment, particularly under the World Trade Organization.

Making gender equality a reality in all fields.eyond their policies firmly committed to gender equality, France and Canada have undertaken to cooperate, as in the work under way in the Elsie Initiative, launched by Canada, to increase the meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations. In the continuation of their G7 presidencies (held by Canada this year and France in 2019), both countries have decided to maintain a special focus on gender equality. Finally, France and Canada will bilaterally organize a seminar for Canadian and French senior public officials dedicated to gender equality in public governance.

It is in this context of strengthened cooperation that visits have been made by the Prime Minister of Canada to France, in April 2018, and the President of the French Republic to Canada, in June 2018. These two visits made it possible to conclude:

In the area of defence, France and Canada have decided to hold a Franco-Canadian Defence Cooperation Council meeting, at ministerial level, by the end of 2018.

With a wish to expand bilateral ties and maintain this focus at the highest political level, France and Canada are committed to setting up a Franco-Canadian Council of Ministers, around the President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister of Canada. The Council of Ministers will meet every two years to report on this strengthened cooperation and to develop joint action.